Can't we get a coach and train Cato as a PF? He has no offense but he does well on board and dunk back Yao's misses. Defensively, he is OK. With Yao and Cato in the middle, we will control the paint. Offensively, we will focus on Yao and SF, with cat as third scorer. Cato will set screen, and fight for the rebound. I think it worth a try.
Cato at PF? He has more body of center than Yao. He doesn't have jump shot, he doesn't have speed, he doesn't have ball handling. Cato defending Webber, Garnett or Wallace? HE's a great center now and he has all cualities to be that for now. He must to continue being the best center no starter on NBA (with Mutombo).
I'm gonna agree with Dani here. I'll put it this way: how many 275-pound power forwards do you know? Tractor Traylor? No thanks.
It is not like we currently have someone to gurad Webber, KG, or other great PF's. EG doesn't have a chance. Posey can still start with Cato as the PF. And you can play zone. We want Yao to play more minutes next season, that means even less play time for Cato if he keeps playing center. It is a waste to play him that way. My suggestion is either trade him away to get a quality PF, or change him to a PF. He will be starting at a lot of teams and there are a lot of talents on F positions. So it is possible to get a good PF by trading him. But a lot of folks here don't like the idea. In that case, we better utilize him more. If we play him as a PF, we don't need him to handle the ball, no need for him to put the ball on floor. Just set up screens, catch-n-pass, find open under basket when Yao gets double teamed, hit glass, tip-back, lob-dunk, if he can do these, I will be happy.
Why not try Cato at 5 and Yao at 4 defensively. Let Yao take on the Garnetts and Wallaces. And then offensively, let Cato play the Rodman role, cleaning up junk. I'd like to see Jeff give that alignment a try. Yao is more agile than people give him credit for. He could play off Wallace and Garnett a little because of his size. If they want to put up 18 footers over him, let 'em. But Yao has great instincts when people are driving on him. He knows how to trail the driver and then smother them at the glass, forcing them into bad angles and off balance leaners, if he doesn't get the block. Plus Cato is hanging out in there. If it worked, all we would need is a Lamar Odom type 3 who can run the floor and make good decisions on the break. Suth'n showtime!
Rudy have played with Cato and Ming sometimes this season. But you only can do that when the other team have a true center and a very strong and slow PF. Like for example Spurs (with Duncan), and....maybe no more teams.
But when the other team has faster PF, such as KG, Webber, or Wallace, it is hopeless to put EG on them anyway. I am saying start Cato instead of EG, and I don't that will hurt our D overall. On offense, Cato is a much better rebounder than EG. We have SF, Yao, and Cat to make most of the shots, we don't need another jump shotter in EG. We need a rebounder to clean Yao's misses. EG is a lazy ass, he just doesn't get in there, and he is not strong enough to play real men down there anyway.
Cato has proven throughout his career to be only good in short bursts. Making him a starter at any position would be a huge mistake...
Short burst as in brief 5-6 minute runs where he can freely foul people and not worry about having to conserve energy...
Both BGM and cannon have a point. Give Cato spot minutes at both 4 and 5. He should get 25 min between the two, and will start to earn his money. Start EG - it's make or break. I think JVG can at least make him tradeable. Dump Taylor. Provided there's not a better way to trade Cato for a true 4.
Well, I think Cato would make a decent PF if he lost a little weight and worked at it. But we all know how likely that is. That being said, I think a twin tower lineup is worth a look, Rudy never tried it last year when he easily could have, thats one of the things that frustrated me about him. Conversely, he was never afraid to go right to the 3-guard disaster no matter what the situation was. That drove me insane. For the first time in years, HOuston could overpower a team with size, especially if you put Posey at SG and Nachbar or Rice (or even Eddie) at SF, , but instead we reverted back to small ball, with Moochie at the helm.
If Cato is the starting PF, who is going to back up Yao? Cato gives us energy off the bench. It's clear after his play this year that he has embraced his role as a backup. I think Yao and Cato are a pretty good 1-2 punch at the center postion. Cato plays better against the other teams backup, that's why he was so improved this year. Let's keep it that way.
cato need to hit the gym floor more often, that is it. he is not too fat. There is no need to lose weight. If he can work on his speed, that will be good. Even he is a bit slower, he can use his strength and height to defense most PF. When opponent's 4 is too much for him to handle, split the job between Yao, Posey, and Cato.
Sorry, even though I can see your logic in your suggestion, I think getting Elton Brand to play along side of Yao Ming would be better! Brand is a much superior Rebounder and Shot Blocker compared to Cato and can score 20 points a game if neeed be.
You just don't get it. Who backs up Sharq, or Divac, or KG, or Dunkun? Nobody better than Cato. But all these teams do better than Rox. You don't need a great back up for your best position to succeed. You can't just look at one thing you do OK and forget about others. It is like wearing a $3000 suit and a $20 walmart shoes.
I agree. But a lot of folks here can not stand the idea of trading Cato for a quality PF. They are afraid nobody will back up Yao. That is why I suggested keeping Cato and playing him as a PF, but when Yao sit down, sending in EG and rotating Cato to 5. That way Cato can play 30 minutes, Yao 35 minutes, and EG and whoever left split 30 minutes.
If you mean Shaq, he doesn't have a good backup...which is why he got worn down and lost in the playoffs. Same with KG. Divac has Keon Clark, a very capable backup at the 5 or 4 spot. I'm not sure about Dunkun, but Tim Duncan has Malik Rose and Kevin Willis on the bench. Both quality backups. Rose could start on a lot of teams. BTW, what quality PF can we get for Cato?
I dont want to Trade Cato! I think we have others that might be used for such a trade- Mobley,Griffin, Taylor, Rice,'Moochie'. A combination of two of these could bring us a starting Power Forward and a Shooting Guard.
Yes, and Kevin Garnett is superior to them both. Might as well throw him in as long as you are dreaming.
